Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK train operating companies can access European markets after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Chris Grayling
We have welcomed expertise from EU (and broader international) train operating companies in the UK market, as has the EU benefitted from the expertise of British based train operating companies. This has been in the mutual interest of all parties.
The Government is committed to securing a close partnership with the EU across a range of sectors, including effective market access. The exact nature of those arrangements remain a matter for negotiations.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to prepare the UK for leaving the EU without a deal in terms of (a) EU exit statutory instruments and (b) the continuity of goods and services through the Channel Tunnel.
Answered by Chris Grayling
The Department for Transport (DfT) began laying EU Exit statutory instruments (SIs) in July 2018, almost as soon as the EU (Withdrawal) Act received Royal Assent. DfT is ranked among the top three departments for delivery, having since laid in draft over 30 of our EU Exit SIs. Recognising that we have a significant number to lay, the Department continues to work at pace to ensure delivery, while adhering to the prescribed processes. The laying of the remaining SIs that we consider crucial to be in place for exit day will be spread between now and February.
In relation to services through the Channel Tunnel the Government continues to work closely with a range of partners, including the relevant governments and Eurotunnel, on contingency plans to ensure that trade can continue to move as freely as possible between the UK and Europe, including in the event of no deal.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to protect the future growth of cross-border rail freight after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Chris Grayling
The Government has agreed in principle the terms of the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the EU, as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement. The UK has also agreed with the EU the broad terms of our future relationship as set out in the outline Political Declaration.
This includes a commitment to agree bilateral arrangements with Member States to ensure the continued smooth functioning and operation of services through the Channel Tunnel.
The Government is engaging with a range of European counterparts, including relevant Member States, in relation to the continued operation of cross-border rail services, following preparations for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. These discussions are ongoing and include consideration of arrangements needed both following the implementation period, as well as preparations for the unlikely event of no deal.
The Government is committed to supporting the continued success of the Channel Tunnel, including rail freight services that run through it, and we want to see these grow in the future.
The arrangements we are seeking to negotiate bilaterally are intended to ensure that both current operators of passenger and freight services, and any prospective operators seeking to run new services in future, can do so as seamlessly as possible.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Section 1.7.4 Rail in The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union White Paper, published on 12 July 2018, how his Department defines the unique characteristics of the UK rail network.
Answered by Chris Grayling
The uniqueness of the UK rail industry is characterised by its long history of market liberalisation and competition, with more private operators than any other EU country and with parts of our network running to almost full capacity. The UK uses a different gauge and also differs from many of our European neighbours in that our network is largely domestic with only two cross-border services.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the liability for errors in drafting technical standards for interoperability that is currently held by the European Commission under a no-deal scenario.
Answered by Chris Grayling
In a no-deal scenario, the UK will be a third country unbound by EU law. UK technical specifications for interoperability will be published by the Secretary of State for Transport, and the European Commission will not hold liability for their content. The UK will also have the flexibility to align with or diverge from new technical standards developed by the EU after exit. We will only diverge where there are clear arguments for doing so and after engaging fully with industry to assess the impact. The Department is currently considering issues relating to liability for UK technical standards and continues to engage closely with stakeholders on this point.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union White Paper, published on 12 July 2018, what progress has been made since that white paper was published; and what steps his Department is taking to secure bilateral agreements with (a) France, (b) Belgium and (c) the Netherlands for continued transport of goods and passengers through the Channel Tunnel after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Chris Grayling
The Government has agreed in principle the terms of the UK’s smooth and orderly exit from the EU, as set out in the Withdrawal Agreement. The UK has also agreed with the EU the broad terms of our future relationship as set out in the outline Political Declaration.
This includes a commitment to agree bilateral arrangements with Member States to ensure the continued smooth functioning and operation of services through the Channel Tunnel.
The Government is engaging with a range of European counterparts, including relevant Member States, in relation to the continued operation of cross-border rail services, following preparations for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. These discussions are ongoing and include consideration of arrangements needed both following the implementation period, as well as preparations for the unlikely event of no deal.
The Government is committed to supporting the continued success of the Channel Tunnel, including rail freight services that run through it, and we want to see these grow in the future.
The arrangements we are seeking to negotiate bilaterally are intended to ensure that both current operators of passenger and freight services, and any prospective operators seeking to run new services in future, can do so as seamlessly as possible.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2018 to Question 174717 on Parking: Pedestrian Areas, what steps his Department is taking as part of that review.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport is in the process of gathering evidence on the problems posed by vehicles parking on pavements, the effectiveness of current regulation, and the case for change. Department for Transport officials have held meetings with a range of stakeholders, including accessibility campaigners, local authority managers, and the motoring associations. This evidence gathering should be complete by the end of the year.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Azuma trains planned for the East Coast Main Line are appropriate for that line.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Intercity Express Programme (IEP) is a government-led investment to deliver new trains onto the Great Western Main Line and the East Coast Mainline. The specification of the trains was developed to deliver the outcomes the Department wanted to achieve with the new fleet, including more passenger seats, reduced journey times and increased reliability. This specification included an extensive, award winning consultation process involving numerous passenger groups representing commuters, cyclists, wheel chair users and visually impaired travellers.
Ahead of introduction of the new trains, there is a comprehensive programme of testing to demonstrate the trains can run safely on the line. The Department along with Hitachi Rail Europe (HRE), Network Rail (NR) and London North Eastern Railway (LNER) are working together to bring these trains into passenger service as soon as possible. The full benefits of this programme will be delivered once the full fleet is in service.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Azuma trains planned for the East Coast Main Line are appropriate for that line.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Intercity Express Programme (IEP) is a government-led investment to deliver new trains onto the Great Western Main Line and the East Coast Mainline. The specification of the trains was developed to deliver the outcomes the Department wanted to achieve with the new fleet, including more passenger seats, reduced journey times and increased reliability. This specification included an extensive, award winning consultation process involving numerous passenger groups representing commuters, cyclists, wheel chair users and visually impaired travellers.
Ahead of introduction of the new trains, there is a comprehensive programme of testing to demonstrate the trains can run safely on the line. The Department along with Hitachi Rail Europe (HRE), Network Rail (NR) and London North Eastern Railway (LNER) are working together to bring these trains into passenger service as soon as possible. The full benefits of this programme will be delivered once the full fleet is in service.
Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons pavement parking is permitted outside London; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport believes that local authorities outside London already have the powers needed to take action against inappropriate pavement parking. However, the Department is currently reviewing the effectiveness of these powers, and considering options for change. This is an internal review, and is due to complete by the end of this year.